At times, it didn't look like the Warriors were even trying to get back into the game against Houston.

Just three nights after having so much fun while erasing a 27-point deficit in a 112-103 win over Toronto, a similar deficit didn't approach being surmountable for the Warriors as the Rockets waltzed to a 105-83 victory Friday at the Toyota Center.

"We know how much energy is exerted to try to come back from a lead like that, so we don't want to put ourselves into those positions," said Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, who had 22 points, five assists and three steals, but also coughed up eight turnovers. "I don't think it's in the back of anybody's mind that we have the firepower to do that. We can't rely on that. I don't know why that message didn't take hold."

Houston (14-7) happily took a 19-point, first-quarter advantage, stretched it to 24 by halftime, led by as many as 28 and proceeded to flat out embarrass the Warriors (11-9). They were not within single digits of the lead after the game's opening six minutes, and they were within 20 points for only seven of the game's final 27 minutes.

The Warriors shot season lows from the floor (35.5 percent) and from three-point range (12.5 percent) and dished out a season-worst 10 assists. They hadn't shot less than 15 percent from distance in more than a year (Nov. 16, 2012, at Minnesota). This was first time they had fewer than 11 assists since 2008 and just the 10th time since 1985-86.

When the Warriors' offense isn't clicking, the team tends to start slacking on defense.

"It's not sometimes. It's pretty much all of the time," said Warriors centerAndrew Bogut, who picked up his fifth foul with 8 1/2 minutes to play in the third and didn't return after recording only four points and five rebounds. "When we don't make shots, for some reason, we feel like we need to get the ball back and score straight away. We forget to play defense. As long as we do that, we're going to struggle."

Whilethe Warriors were hanging their heads, James Harden put up 34 points, seven rebounds and four assists, Dwight Howard had 22 points, 18 rebounds and three steals, and Terrence Jones added 16 points, 10 rebounds, three blocked shots and three steals.

Even after a 6-2 , third-quarter stretch - which was regarded as a run for the Warriors on a night like this - Curry had a towel draped over his head and David Lee stood right next to him as the two stared into a space of disbelief during a timeout.

Harrison Barnes had 14 points, seven rebounds and a career-high four steals, Lee added 11 points, and Kent Bazemore came off the bench to score 12 points. Klay Thompson totaled just five points on a 2-for-10 shooting night.

"It was a bad loss," Warriors head coach Mark Jackson said. "There have been times when our bench was bad, and we let them know. Tonight, our starters did a poor job of setting the tone. We got outworked and they played with more force, and it set the tone for the rest of the way."

That's pretty much how it always goes here. The Warriors have lost 18 of their past 21 games against Houston, including the Feb. 5 meeting when the Rockets tied an NBA record with 23 three-pointers.

"When you have losses like this, the best thing to do is have a game the next day," Bogut said before boarding a flight to Memphis, where the Warriors play Saturday. "People stop talking about it and we'll be able to stop thinking about it. When you have two or three days to think about it, it hurts a little bit more."

Saturday's game

Who: Warriors (11-9) at Grizzlies (9-9)

Where: Memphis

When: 5 p.m.

TV/Radio: CSNBA/680

Of note: The Warriors have lost 11 consecutive times to the Grizzlies, including two meetings this season by an average of 12.5 points. ... Golden State hasn't won in Memphis since April 4, 2008, when Andris Biedrins had 21 points (he hit 5 of 6 free-throw attempts) and 17 rebounds in a 117-86 victory. ... Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph had 12 points on 4-for-13 shooting and seven turnovers in Thursday's return from a two-game absence because of an ingrown toenail. ... Memphis played without all-league defender Tony Allen (sore right hip) in Thursday's 101-81 loss to the Clippers and has been without Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol (left MCL sprain) for five games.

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